WAIRAKAPA & EAST COAST P. &A. SOCIETY .

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2457, 10 May 1915, Page 8

WAIRAKAPA & EAST COAST P. &A. SOCIETY .

Mr. -W. H. Booth presided at the animal general meeting of members' of the :\Vairarapa and East Coast Pastoral and Agricultural Society at Carterton on Saturday. The annual report of tho committee and the balance-sheet were adopted. In reviewing the past year's operations, tho chairman said that the success Which, attended tho gift auction was very gratifying,. and enabled the society to pay for the section on Bel.vedere Road, next the entrance gates. 'A! proportion of the proceeds of the gift stock' sale were also spent on the improvements as originally planned. The section adjoining came into possession of- the society by the generosity of Mr. iW. Howar<L Booth. The debentures stated 1 in tlie balance-sheet as still owing amount to £339, and for this amount still further deductions may now be made of those cancelled by the following holders:—Sir Walter Buchanaii; IA. Booth, 1; ; i. lveid, 1; GCampbell, 1; 0. Morgan, 1; representing £65; and the society thanked these gentlemen for the gifts they made of their debentures. The sum of £79 had beoii spent in adding permanent improvements, principally the cattle stalls, The building was necessary for the growing entries in the cattle classes, and tho small cost makes it of great valuo to tho society. The show washeld at a time 'when it was scarcely expected to be the success it usually is, and though the society was fortunate in having fine weather, it was natural that the war should have had an effect -both on to entries and the attendance. And though the total entries wero as large as tho previous year, the increase was more in those exhibits in the Agricultural Hall and less in the exhibits of stock. Taking into consideration that tho show was held in the tlird month oi the war, tlie results, though not giving great profits, should bo considered highly satisfactory.

'Cno chairman extended the thanks of tho socict.y to the following gentlemen for valuable assistance:—Mr. W. Howard Booth, for securing the section of land on Belvedere Kond. Sir Walter Buclianan, Messrs. A. Broth, T. Reid, C. Campbell, and C. Morgan, tor the gifts of their debentures. Mr. Saywell, for a donation of • £5 ss. towards the purchase of a new trophy for the but-ter-fat competition, to take the place of tho cup ho won outright at last show. We give our congratulations as well as thanks to Mr. Saywell. Mr. J. Harp, for his excellent management of the society's luncheon room. Mr. Booth, again, for lending the society, tho use of liis paddock for our milking competition, and Mr. Hodder for superintending it, and to nuny others for loyal help and supgprt. Finally the chairman referred to a schemo which the committee had had in view for some time past, the moving and alterations to the Agricultural Hall. "We are not able,'' ho said, "to take a motion on the matter with regard to the finance, as sufficient notice has not been given to the society's proposal according to the Act. But your committee cordially invite your criticism and opinion of the schome. Briefly, the position is that tho hall lills got to bo moi'ed, the land is bought for it, and the committee ■look forward to increasing tho space on tho grounds when it is moved from its present position. The question we havo to consider is whether tho society s interests are best served by spending, say £200 on its removal, with little alteration, or whether a mm of, say, £1000 or £1200 should be spent on its removal, alteration, and 'improvement to make it a revcnue-produciiig InuWin!r In considering this question the revenue "to be derived is the deciding factor, and we are assured of an income of more than £200 per annum lor a lengthy period, linder these ciicumstances your committee propose to go on with the scheme. We intend to put a, proposal for a loan before you on Hay 22 t and' L'lioijo to. sejk a,, large gftthi

ering on that day to finally discuss tho scheme. Wo have given a very great deal of thought aiul time to consideration of tho matter, and liavo come to the conclusion that as tho income will not only pay all interest on tho society's liabilities, but will besides give us sufficient to place a substantial sum to a sinking fund each year in reduction of of the loan, we conclude that tho proposal should be gone on with."

An important salo of land took place recently at Carterton, when Messrs. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., offered tho well-known Ponatalii Estate, the property of Messrs. M'Laren Bros. The property has been subdivided into eight sections, ranging from S5 to 720 acres, and is conveniently situated. Bidding was not too keen at auction, and the firm only succeedcd in disposing of two sections: Section 5, comprising 85 acres, to Mr. H. Preston Edwards, Carterton, at 155.; section 3, comprising 160 acres, to Mr. P. Anderson, Martinhorough, at £7 7s. 6d. The auctioneers have since sold section 6,' comprising 160 acres, also to Mr. Edwards, at .£lO. Thoro have been a number of inquiries since the sale, and as the owners have reasonable reserves on all tho sections, the firm anticipate being ablo to dispose of the property. Many a small farmer whoso account with us a few years, ago was very small indeed, has to-day grown into an account worth handling. We can claim to have done our share to help him along, in handling his Home-separated Cream, Butter, or Eggs, to tho best advantage. Let us get a' clianco of your business now wo a.ro short of all stocks, and can deal with your produce to your advantage. Wanganui Fresh Food and Ice Co. —-Advt.